Y’all listen up now: I do declare 2016 The Year of Country Music in London.

That’s because we’ve gone country . . . w-a-a-y country.

Let me tell ya ‘bout it.

London is the host city for the 40th annual Country Music Week of the Canadian Country Music Association and its awards show at Budweiser Gardens Sept. 8-11;

The annual four-day Rock the Park festival at Harris Park offers another two days of Gone Country July 13-14 after roping in more than 10,000 fans each day last summer for Lee Brice and superstar Keith Urban. It expects the same this year with Brad Paisley and Jake Owen.

Western Fair District is saddling up this year with a two-day Trackside Music Festival featuring headliners Chris Young July 1 and Florida Georgia Line on July 2.

If that ain’t enough to buck your bronco, how about the lineup at Budweiser Gardens: Brantley Gilbert (Feb. 13), Johnny Reid (March 20), Jason Aldean (May 14) and — now don’t go gittin’ yer britches in a knot — multiple Grammy-winning country superstar Carrie Underwood, who’ll be bringing her wagons to town May 30.

“I think it’s well-deserved,” said Tourism London director John Winston of this declaration for 2016.

“This area has been a hotbed of country music for several years now. A lot of country music’s biggest stars come to Budweiser Gardens and it’s being recognized in Nashville for its fans.”

The stampede to country music in London has spread to the nightclub scene, first with the arrival of Cowboys Ranch on Wharncliffe Road a decade ago, followed last October by the country-themed eatery Bull & Barrel Urban Saloon on Talbot Street, which offers distinctly southern fare such as barbecue (beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken and ribs), burgers, tacos, baked beans and chilli with a country music DJ Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and open mic country on Tuesdays. Like Cowboys Ranch, Bull & Barrell has a mechanical bull.

“It’s an exciting year,” said owner Andrew Corbett, a country music fan who also owns a Bull & Barrel in Windsor.

“Country music has changed drastically from being a sub-genre to a popular mainstream genre. It’s fans are young teens to retirees. It’s a very feel-good style of music that’s just exploded.

“It’s also about all the communities around London where people are living the country lifestyle.

“The songs are all about love, family, happiness and the good, important things in life. Country music brings people together.”

Other nightclubs are taking notice and rustling some fans.

Last year London Music Hall hosted about 12 country acts.

“We had as many country acts here (in 2015) as we did the previous six years,” said Demetri Manuel, general manager of the club owned by his father Mike, who is partnering with Western Fair District and Budweiser Gardens for the Trackside Music Festival.

“Country music fans are a very young demographic and country music sells. These are the people going out and spending money at the bars.”

A country music fan since he was a young teen, Demetri Manuel, now 28, said country artists “are easy to like.”

“They are the most personable of all the artists we bring in,” he said. “And they relate very well to their fans.”

Thorndale’s Purple Hill Country Opry — where country (new and old), roots and bluegrass music are featured — is stepping up its schedule ahead of the CCMAs with a full slate of barn dances, dinner shows and concerts with stars such Marie Bottrell and country rocker Shelly Rastin.

There’s also the Outdoor Bluegrass Reunion Aug. 19-21.

At Aeolian Hall, Country Music Television is taping a concert featuring multiple CCMA and Juno winner Gord Bamford Jan. 27.

Not only is country music having an impact on the bar and food scene, but many fans wouldn’t be caught dead without their cowboy boots and hats.

There are a few stores in the region selling western wear — those fancy shirts, dresses, jeans, hats and boots — such as Caralot Country Clothier in Parkhill, Sprucewood Tack Shop in Arva, TSC stores, and Wilson’s Tack Shop on Dundas Street East.

Gary Coakley is co-owner of Coakleys on York Street, where you can get your shoes repaired, keys cut, watch batteries replaced, custom leather work done and drop off your dry cleaning.

Coakleys is not a big fan of country music, but two years ago he crossed trails with a Boulet boots representative while sourcing leather belts to sell.

He’s glad he did. In fact, over the next few months Coakley will be renovating his shop to expand his displays of cowboy boots, hats and belts.

“It’s going to be a big year for us,” said Coakley, who immigrated here in 2009 to marry a Lucan woman Krisandra and set up a shoe repair business like he operated in England.

Two weeks before Christmas, Coakley sold 15 pairs of cowboy boots, which start at about $235 and climb depending on design. He offers the Boulet line and its affiliate, Rugged Country.

“I don’t know what it is, but the country scene here has just blown up.”

Well, London, I don’t know about you, but I intend to saddle up and ride this pony for a long, long time.